t be sent. Nay, look not so sternly on me,
beloved Nisida, I did not intend to vex thee with idle jestings; but
thou knowest that I cannot aid thee."

"Fernand, you love me not!" exclaimed Nisida, suddenly withdrawing her
arm from its fond position about his neck, and retreating a few paces.
"No; you do not love me as you were wont, or as I love you! You
doubtless have some means of gratifying my ardent longings. A secret
voice whispers within me that if you chose to exert all your powers, you
might render me happy--at least so happy as I could be when separated
from you! I have assured you that naught save the most important
interests would render me thus anxious to return to my native city; and
if you find me thus importunate, you should pity me, not refuse to aid
me."

"Holy Virgin! this is maddening!" cried Wagner. "Nisida--be reasonable;
how can I assist thee? how can I enable thee to cross that sea which
appears to us boundless? And thou accusest me of not loving thee,
Nisida! Oh! this is too cruel!"

"No, it is thou who art cruel!" exclaimed Nisida, in an impassioned
tone. "I know that you are not a being of an ordinary stamp, that your
intellect is as wonderful as your person is godlike,--and that you
possess a mine of knowledge in the extent of which no mortal can equal
thee. Is it strange--is it marvelous, then, that I should implore thee
to exert thy powers--the vast powers of thy glorious intelligence, to
forward my design? Nay, seek not to interrupt me, Fernand, denial is
vain! A secret voice continues to whisper within me that thou art able
to do all I ask; I know not the means to be used--I seek not to know
them; but that thou hast such means within thy reach, is a conviction
firmly impressed upon my mind. Here, then, Fernand, at thy feet, on my
knees, do I implore thee, beseech thee, not to refuse the boon which I,
thy loving wife, crave at the hands of thee, my husband, as if I were a
humble suppliant suing at the footstool of a throned king!"

"Nisida, Nisida!" cried Fernand, painfully excited by this sudden
movement on her part, and endeavoring to rise: "what means so strange a
proceeding? Rise, dearest, rise; it is not to me that you must thus
humble yourself!"

"No; I will not quit this suppliant attitude until you shall have
granted my request--my prayer," said Nisida. "Refuse me not, my Fernand.
Oh! I implore you not to refuse me! Whatever means be within your reach,
exert them on my behalf.